Electrode holder



Dec. 8, 1942.

H. J. WAGNER 2,304,321

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Nov. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l I uz'entar f 6 8/03 J W0 er Dec. 8, 1942. ,H. J. WAGNER ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Nov. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Herr/y J W0 72 By 2mm Attorney Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT.OFFICE ELECTRODE HOLDER Henry J. Wagner, Jackson, Mo.- Application November 8, 1941, Serial No. 418,411

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electrode holders, and has for one of its important objects to provide a device of this character comprising a construction and arrangement which is such as to permit the anced and wherein the mechanism will be protected from heat, et cetera.

Another important-object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder comprising unique means for connecting the electric conductor cable to the device.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an electrode holder of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an elec-- trode holder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the device.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stationary portion of the mechanism.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the pivoted jaw.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the slidable bar which actuates the pivoted jaw.

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the bar operating lever.

Figure 7 is a detail view in perspective of the thumb piece or handle which is mounted on the bar actuating lever.

Figure 8 is a detail view in perspective of one of thejaw insulating plates.

Figure 9 is a detail view in perspective of one of the insulating sleeve sections.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tubular handle I of insulating material which is open at its forward end, said handle including a rounded, apertured rear end 2. Adjacent its forward end, the handle I has formed in its upper portion an elongated opening 3.

Mounted longitudinally in the handle I is an elongated housing 4 of'segmental cross-section,

said housing being of conducting material. On the forward end of the housing 4 is a substantially U-shaped integral bearing 5. Projecting forwardly from the bearing 5 is a shank 6 having a longitudinal channel or groove 1 therein. At its forward end, the shank 6 terminates in a stationary jaw 8. The jaw 8 includes a removable face 9.

0n the rear end ill of the housing 415 an integral conical socket ll comprising an internally threaded rear end portion 12 of uniform diameter. As shown to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawings, the socket H is for the reception of the skinned end portion of a conductor cable l3. Prior to the insertion of the conductor cable l3 in the socket H, the strands of the skinned end portion of said cable are opened and a spreader I4 in the form of a double cone is placed therein. A split compression sleeve I5 is then placed on the cable over the spreader l4 and said cable is then inserted in the socket H. A compression nut I6 is then threaded into the portion l2 of the socket II for anchoring the cable. Of course, the cable I3 is secured in the socket before the handle I is slipped over the tubular housing 4.

Journaled at I! on the forward portion of the shank 6 and cooperable with the stationary jaw 8 is a pivoted jaw (8. The jaw l8 comprises a removable face IS. The jaw l8 further ineludes apertured legs 20 which straddle the forward portion of the shank 6 to receive the pivot pin I1. The pivoted jaw I8 is further provided, in its upperportion and at its rear end, with a transverse rib or the like 2| of substantially circular cross-section. Insulating plates 22 are secured by screws 23 on the backs of the jaws 8 and l8. 5

A bar 24 is slidably mounted in the groove 1 in the shank 6. A bearing 25on the forward end of the bar 24 is journaled on the rib H. The bar 24 further includes a downwardly curved rear portion 26 which is operable in the housing. 4 and which is provided, on its rear end, with a head 21. A coil spring 28 is engaged with the head 21 for yieldingly urging the bar 24 forwardly.-

A longitudinally extending lever 29 is provided, on its forward end, with fulcrums 38 which are engaged in the bearing 5. A lug II on the bar 24 is engaged in an opening 32 which is provided therefor in the forward portion of the lever 29, thus connecting said bar to said lever for actuation thereby. Mounted on the rear end portion of the lever 29 is a thumb piece or handle 34 which is operable in the opening 3 in the handle I. Screws I5 secure the handle 34 to the lever 29.

Enclosing the shank 6 and the forward portion of the bar 24 is an insulating sleeve 36. The sleeve 36 comprises substantially wedge-shaped complemental sections 31 and 38 of segmental cross-section. A screw 39 secures the section 31 to the bar 24 and a similar screw 40 secures the sleeve section 38 to the shank 6.

It is thought that the operation of the tool will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the coil spring 28 yieldingly urges the pivoted jaw I8 toward closed position. To open the pivoted jaw I8 for the insertion of an electrode, the lever 29 is swung downwardly on the fulcrums 30 through the medium of the thumb piece or handle 34. This retracts the bar 24 against the tension of the coil spring 28 and the jaw I8 is swung upwardly to open position on its pivot I'I. The electrode is inserted and the thumb piece or handle 84 is released. The coil spring 28 then moves the bar 24 forwardly for closing the jaw I8 on the electrode. Thus, the electrode is firmly clamped between the jaws 8 and I8. The construction of the cable coupling is such as to positively assure a good electrical connection to the device at all for any'purpose for which it may be found adapted and desirable.

It is believed that the many advantages of an electrode holder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrode holder of the character described comprising a tubular handle of insulating material, an elongated metallic housing in said handle, means for connecting a conductor cable to one end of the housing, an integral shank on the other end of the housing having a longitimes. Incidentally, this connection may be used tudinal channel therein, a stationary jaw on said shank, a pivoted jaw on the shank cooperable with said stationary jaw, a bar slidable in the channel and hingedly connected to the pivoted jaw, an insulating sleeve comprising complemental sections secured to the bar and to the shank, a coil spring in the housing for actuating the bar in a direction to close the pivoted jaw, and means for manually opening said pivoted jaw against the tension of the coil spring.

2. An electrode holder of the character described comprising a tubular handle of insulating material, an elongated metallic housing in said handle, means for connecting a conductor cable to one end of the housing, an integral shank on the other end of the housing having a longitudinal channel therein, a stationary jaw on said shank, a pivoted jaw on the shank cooperable with said stationary jaw, a bar slidable in the channel and operatively connected to the pivoted jaw, an insulating sleeve comprising complemental sections secured to the bar and to the shank, a coil spring in the housing for actuating the bar in a direction to close the pivoted jaw,

and means for manually opening said pivoted jaw against the tension of the coil spring, said means including a lever, fulcrums on one end portion of said lever engaged in the housing, said lever having an opening therein, a lug on the bar engaged in the opening for operatively connecting said bar to the lever, and a handle on one end portion of the lever, the first-named handle having an opening therein, the secondnamed handle extending through the secondnamed opening and being operable therein.

3. An electrode holder comprising a tubular handle of insulating material having an opening therein, an elongated metallic housing of substantially segmental cross-section mounted in said handle, a bearing on one end of the housing, a shank on said one end of said housing, pivoted and stationary jaws on said shank, a bar slidable on the shank and hingedly connected to the pivoted law, said bar .extending into the housing and including a head on one end, a coil spring in the housing engaged with the head for yieldingly urging the bar in a direction to close the pivoted jaw, a lever including fulcrums on one end engaged in the bearing, means operatively connecting said lever to the bar for actu-' ating said bar in the opposite direction for open ing the pivoted jaw, and an operating handle on said lever operable in the opening in the firstnamed handle.

HENRY J. WAGNER. 

